Living in Georgia for the last year has been a very interesting and necessary experience, but I miss Oakland, CA and the amazing people I was in community with there. From poets and novelists to tarot readers and artists, I was constantly surrounded by people who understand what the life of a creative can look like.

They understand when you say you "need" to paint or write for the entire weekend. They don't judge you when you've got paint on nearly every pair of jeans you own. It was great to be surrounded by that level of acceptance.

Georgia is different.

But I found an amazing woman to spend time with here and that has made all the difference in this temporary relocation. Tiare Smith is one of those people that when you meet her, she's EXACTLY the same as when you saw her on Periscope or Ustream or in a video from an online class.

Her energy and laughter is the same. She's just as wonderful off camera as she is on and the art...the art is 1000 times more amazing in person than when you're seeing it on Instagram.

So when I was making my dream team list of instructors for The Journey Within 2016, Tiare's name was on the list for sure. Her artistic style is so distinct and unique that you can't help but be drawn to it. She really hones her craft everyday in an effort to bring joy to those in her community. I know that having her as a part of the course is going to be transformational.

Of course when it came time for her to give me a challenge, I knew she was going to push me out of my comfort zone. And she did!!

TODAY'S CHALLENGE -- from Tiare Smith

The challenge started with me going back into an online class I took with Tiare called Splatter, Splotch, and Splash. She challenged me to get creative and make a fall/winter tree or tree scene using the Splotch Art Technique she teaches in that class.

Love your "splotch" art trees. What an awesome idea. Thank you so much for your kinds words. Looking forward to this workshop and taking this journey with amazing instructors, artists and students! (...and to our next eating, shopping adventure! LOL!)